Railroad crossing

ABSTRACT

Building railroad crossing with concrete slabs which are dowel connected at the ends thereof, and by interconnecting these slabs by means of a spring hook provided at one end of a concrete slab and providing a recess at the mating end of an adjacent concrete slab to receive the spring hook in snapping engagement therein.

United States Patent inventor Wilfrid Gagnon Comte Temiscoyata, Le Etroits, Quebec, Canada Appl. No. 863,574 Filed Oct. 3, 1969 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 RAILROAD CROSSING 12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 238/8 Int. Cl E01b 26/00 Field of Search 238/4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10 E; 94/17, 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,647,693 8/1953 Carver 238/6 2,672,295 3/1954 Cone 238/9 FOREIGN PATENTS 364,524 1 1/1962 Switzerland 238/9 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney Raymond A. Robic ABSTRACT: Building railroad crossing with concrete slabs which are dowel connected at the ends thereof, and by interconnecting these slabs by means of a spring hook provided at one end of a concrete slab and providing a recess at the mating end of an adjacent concrete slab to receive the spring hook in snapping engagement therein.

PATENIEn nm 2 15m sum 10F 2 3,612,394

INVENTOR Wilfrid GAGNON ATTORNEY PATENTED GET 1 2 I971 SHEN 2 OF 2 3,612,39d

uvvsrv TOR Wilfrid GAGNON ATTORNEY RAILROAD caossmc This invention relates to a railroad crossing. More particularly, the invention is directed to the construction of railroad crossings and a system of concrete slabs therefor. Particularly,

the invention consists in using a number of rectangular slabs of concrete which are dowel connected to one another and laid flat over the bed of railroad ties between and outside the tracks.

. In the past, railroad crossings have been mainly constructed by using pieces of timber which were laid over the ties between and outside the tracks. For some time, this idea was satisfactory and was extensively utilized at a period where there was practically no traffic on the highways and over the tracks. At the present time, the circulation of light and heavy motorized vehicles has extensively increased with the result that the construction of railroad crossings in the above manner by using timber pieces has been found very unsatisfactory. For example, maintenance is very high because of rapid wear. Furthermore damages and even accidents may be caused to the vehicles circulating over the tracks. The result is a substantial increase in the cost of keeping suitable railroad crossings.

On the other hand, the railroad space required between and outside the tracks may be filled with asphalt or other pavement material. This has again been found completely unsatisfactory because the filling must be completely removed and destroyed whenever a repair has to be made on the railway track itself.

I have found that these disadvantages may be overcome by building the railroad crossing with concrete slabs which are dowel connected at the ends thereof, and by interconnecting these slabs by means of a spring hook provided at one end of a concrete slab and providing a recess at the mating end of an adjacent concrete slab to receive the spring hook in snapping engagement therein. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring hook may be formed with a free ended spring blade and a catch element depending from the free end thereof and the recess formed in the mating end of the adjacent concrete slab has a hooking shoulder to snap the catch element therein in locking position of the spring hook.

The hookingshoulder mentioned above may be formed by providing the mating end of the adjacent concrete slab with an angle iron embedded therein.

In accordance with a further embodiment, each concrete slab has an angle iron frame embedded therein and at the end of the frame where the spring blade is provided, there is a first transverse bar connecting the two longitudinal sections of the frame and the spring blade is fixedly mounted at one end over this bar. Preferably, there is a second transverse bar between this first transverse bar and the respective lateral section and the spring blade passes underneath the second transverse bar so as to assure a resilient upward movement of the spring blade.

The recess provided in the adjacent concrete slab to receive the spring hook must necessarily be provided at a level above the upper edge of the angle iron frame. It has therefore been found suitable to form the spring blade with an L-shaped hook member comprising a branch rising from the main body thereof and a horizontal branch provided with a catch element depending from the free end thereof and adapted to be received in the above recess in engagement over the booking shoulder.

To firmly secure the angle iron frame in concrete, there may be provided a plurality of anchors which project inwardly from the frame into the concrete material.

As stated above, the concrete slabs are dowel connected and for this purpose, there is provided in each slab a pair of longitudinal metal tubes, and each slab is connected to the adjacent one by means of a dowel welded at the end of a tube, and each dowel is freely engagedat the other end of a corresponding tube provided in'the adjacent slab.

The concrete slab maybe further reinforced by providing therein a reinforcing armature.

As a special embodiment, each slab may comprise a longitudinal hole to permit the passing of electrical and communication cables therethrough.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a railroad crossing according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view from above, the right portion being partially cut away to illustrate the inner structure, of two concrete slabs;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner structure at one end of a concrete slab and also illustrates the manner of unhooking two hooked concrete slabs;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a section view of connected concrete slabs showing the dowel connections;

FIG. 6 is the female end view of a concrete slab; and

FIG. 7 is the male end view of a corresponding slab. 7

Referring to the drawings, the railroad crossing] of the invention comprises a plurality of concrete slabs 3 which are laid flat over crossties 5 (those underneath the crossing not illustrated) between and exteriorly of the track rails 7 and 9 as particularly illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

In the embodiment illustrated, there are two rows of concrete slabs 3 between the tracks 7,, 9, one row outside of track 7 and another row outside of track 9.

The concrete slabs 3 are laid flat over the crossties 5 and this is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5 of the drawings.

For this purpose, each concrete slab 3 has a-pair of longitudinal metal tubes 11 and 13 each mounted along a Iongitu dinal edge of a concrete slab in the particular manner illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 of drawings. 1

A dowel 15 is welded at one end of each tube 11, 13 to be solidly retained therein and is adapted. to project outside the concrete slab. The portion which project exteriorly of the concrete slab is adapted to be freely received at the other end of a corresponding tube provided in the adjacent concrete slab.

In this manner, the concrete slabs will, to some extent, be prevented from moving relative to one another. However, to define a unitary railroad crossing, the concrete slabs must in some way be hooked to one another. This is particularly the purpose of the present invention and it will now be specially described with respect to FIGS. 3 and 4' of the drawings.

The inner structure of the concrete slab 3 comprises an angle iron frame 17 which is embedded in the material of the concrete slab. Obviously, the angle iron frame 17 has two longitudinal sections 19, 21 and two lateral sections 23, 25 (lateral section 25 being illustrated in FIG. 4 only). The lateral sections 23, 25 run along the ends of each concrete slab and the angle iron frame 17 is disposed in the concrete slab to have the horizontal portion close to the lower face of the concrete slab while the vertical portion upwardly projects from the horizontal portion. The angle iron frame 17 is formed with a transverse bar 26 which connects the longitudinal section 19 to the longitudinal section 21. A spring, blade 27 is mounted at one end on the upper surface of the transverse bar 26 by means of the rivet connection 29. A second transverse bar 31 is mounted over the horizontal portions of the two longitudinal sections 19, 21 midway between the transverse bar 29 and the lateral section 23. The spring blade is then allowed to pass underneath the second transverse bar 31 to produce a resilient force when upwardly moved at the free end thereof.

The spring blade 27 is formed at the free end thereof with an L-shaped hook member 33 comprising a branch 35 rising from the main body 37 and a horizontal branch 39 provided at the end thereof with a catch element 441. To allow to a certain extent a free upward movement of the spring blade 27, the concrete slab is provided at the spring blade end thereof with a cavity 43 having the particular shape (irregular Z) illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

In this manner, the spring blade is capable of resilient upward movement, but when the catch element 41 is in the recess 45 provided in the adjacent concrete slab, italways has the tendency to lock the concrete slabs in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

The recess 45 formed in the end of the adjacent concrete slab has a hooking shoulder 47 provided therein to snap the catch element in locking position. It should be pointed out at this time that the hooking shoulder 47 is obviously the upper edge of the lateral section 25 of the angle iron frame 17 away from the spring blade.

it must be remembered that two concrete slabs should always be mounted with play to allow an easy dismantling thereof by inserting therebetween a gripper 49. For this purpose a space 51 must be provided between the flange 53 of the catch element 41 and the shoulder 47 so that enough play will be provided when inserting the gripper 49 between two adjacent locked-together concrete slabs.

To firmly secure the frame in the concrete slab, there are provided a plurality of anchors 55 which project inwardly from the vertical portions of the angle iron frame, into the concrete material of the slab.

The upper portion of the concrete slabs 3 comprises a reinforcing armature 57 and the purpose thereof needs no explanation.

Each concrete slab comprises a longitudinal hole 59 to permit the passing therethrough of electrical and communication cables 61 and 63.

It should be remembered that the angle iron frame 17 must possess suitable holes 65, 67 to allow the passage therethrough ofthe tubes 11,12.

Finally the railroad crossing according to the invention is attached to a corresponding crosstie 3 at the lateral sides thereof. For this purpose, the ends of the concrete slabs 3 defining the lateral sides of the railroad crossing are provided with the eye connections 69 retained in the concrete material by means of corresponding shanks not shown. A tie ring 71 is provided in the eye connection 69 and said tie ring 71 is held against the upper surface of a concrete tie 3 by means of a spike 75. Reference is made to FIG. 1 of the drawings.

It has been found that the railroad crossing made of the slabs according to the invention and laid as described above is easily installed and dismantled. Furthermore, it can be only partly dismantled for servicing and repair, while the remainder remains intact to allow uninterrupted traffic circulation. Another very important advantage is that the railroad crossing according to the invention can be completely dismantled without damaging the abutting end of the road pavement, particularly where pavement edging block is used.

lclaim:

l. A railroad crossing formed with a plurality of concrete slabs laid flat over crossties between and exteriorly of track rails, said concrete slabs having dowel connections at the ends thereof, wherein said slabs comprise further interconnecting first means to interconnect said slabs end to end, said interconnecting first means comprising a spring-biased hook provided at one end of a first concrete slab and a recess at the mating end of an adjacent second concrete slab, said recess formed with a hooking shoulder to receive said spring hook in snapping engagement therein and to lock said spring hook.

2. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring hook is formed with a free-ended spring blade comprising a catch element depending from the free end thereof.

3. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mating end has a first angle iron embedded therein and the upper end of said angle iron defines said hooking shoulder.

4. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 3, which comprises an angle iron frame embedded in each concrete slab, said angle iron frame having two longitudinal sections and two lateral sections, said lateral sections running along the ends of each said concrete slab, the vertical portion of said angle iron frame upwardly projecting from the horizontal portion, said spring blade and said recess provided only between two adjacent connected concrete slabs, a transverse bar provided between said two longitudinal sections, said spring blade when required fixedly mounted at the other end thereof over said transverse bar provided between said two longitudinal sections, said spring blade mounted to allow resilient upward movement of said spring blade, said first angle iron comprisin said lateral section of said angle iron frame away from sai spring blade.

5. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said frame has a second transverse bar mounted between said first transverse bar and the lateral section adjacent said spring blade, said spring blade passing under said second transverse bar to assure said resilient upward movement of said spring blade.

6. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 5, wherein an inner space is provided in said first concrete slab to allow free upward resilient movement of said spring blade.

7. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 6, which comprises a plurality of anchors inwardly projecting from said frame into concrete material to firmly secure said frame in said concrete material.

8. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 7, which comprises a pair of longitudinal metal tubes provided in each slab along the outer edges thereof, each slab connected to the adjacent slab by means of a dowel welded at the end of each tube, each said dowel freely engaged at the end of a corresponding tube provided in an adjacent slab.

9. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 8, wherein each slab comprises a reinforcing armature.

10. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 9, wherein each slab comprises a longitudinal hole to permit passing of electrical and communication cables therethrough.

11. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 10, wherein said spring blade is formed with an L-shaped hook member comprising a branch rising from the main body of said spring blade and a horizontal branch provided with said catch element, de pending from the free end thereof.

12. A railroad crossing formed with a plurality of concrete slabs laid flat over crossties between and exteriorly of track rails wherein each slab comprises a pair of longitudinal metal tubes, each slab connected to the adjacent slab by means of a dowel welded at one end of each tube, each said dowel freely engaged at the other end of a corresponding tube provided in an adjacent slab, said railroad crossing also comprising a spring hook provided at one end of a first concrete slab, said spring hook formed with a free ended spring blade, said spring blade formed with an L-shaped hook member comprising a branch rising from the main body of said spring blade and a horizontal branch provided with a catch element depending from the free end thereof, a recess formed in the mating end of a second adjacent slab, said recess having an angle iron embedded therein, the upper end of said angle iron defining a hooking shoulder to snap said catch element therein in locking position of said spring blade, an angle iron frame embedded in each concrete slab, said angle iron frame having two longitudinal sections and two lateral sections, said lateral sections running along the ends of each said concrete slab, the vertical portion of said angle iron frame upwardly projecting from the horizontal portion, said spring blade and said recess provided only between two adjacent concrete slabs, said spring blade when required fixedly mounted at the outer end thereof over a first transverse bar provided between said two longitudinal sections, an inner space provided in said first concrete slab to allow free upward movement of said spring blade, said first angle iron comprising said lateral section of said angle iron frame away from said spring blade, a second transverse bar mounted between said first transverse bar and the lateral section adjacent said spring blade, said spring blade passing underneath said second transverse bar to assure resilient upward movement thereof, a plurality of anchors inwardly projecting from said frame into concrete material to firmly secure said frame in said concrete, a reinforcing armature in said concrete material, each slab provided with a longitudinal hole to permit passing electrical and communication cables therethrough, the lateral sides of said railroad crossing secured to corresponding crossties by means of tie rings provided at the corresponding ends of said concrete slabs, said tie rings spiked against the upper surface of said crosstie. 

1. A railroad crossing formed with a plurality of concrete slabs laid flat over crossties between and exteriorly of track rails, said concrete slabs having dowel connections at the ends thereof, wherein said slabs comprise further interconnecting first means to interconnect said slabs end to end, said interconnecting first means comprising a spring-biased hook provided at one end of a first concrete slab and a recess at the mating end of an adjacent second concrete slab, said recess formed with a hooking shOulder to receive said spring hook in snapping engagement therein and to lock said spring hook.
 2. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring hook is formed with a free-ended spring blade comprising a catch element depending from the free end thereof.
 3. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mating end has a first angle iron embedded therein and the upper end of said angle iron defines said hooking shoulder.
 4. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 3, which comprises an angle iron frame embedded in each concrete slab, said angle iron frame having two longitudinal sections and two lateral sections, said lateral sections running along the ends of each said concrete slab, the vertical portion of said angle iron frame upwardly projecting from the horizontal portion, said spring blade and said recess provided only between two adjacent connected concrete slabs, a transverse bar provided between said two longitudinal sections, said spring blade when required fixedly mounted at the other end thereof over said transverse bar provided between said two longitudinal sections, said spring blade mounted to allow resilient upward movement of said spring blade, said first angle iron comprising said lateral section of said angle iron frame away from said spring blade.
 5. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 4, wherein said frame has a second transverse bar mounted between said first transverse bar and the lateral section adjacent said spring blade, said spring blade passing under said second transverse bar to assure said resilient upward movement of said spring blade.
 6. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 5, wherein an inner space is provided in said first concrete slab to allow free upward resilient movement of said spring blade.
 7. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 6, which comprises a plurality of anchors inwardly projecting from said frame into concrete material to firmly secure said frame in said concrete material.
 8. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 7, which comprises a pair of longitudinal metal tubes provided in each slab along the outer edges thereof, each slab connected to the adjacent slab by means of a dowel welded at the end of each tube, each said dowel freely engaged at the end of a corresponding tube provided in an adjacent slab.
 9. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 8, wherein each slab comprises a reinforcing armature.
 10. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 9, wherein each slab comprises a longitudinal hole to permit passing of electrical and communication cables therethrough.
 11. A railroad crossing as claimed in claim 10, wherein said spring blade is formed with an L-shaped hook member comprising a branch rising from the main body of said spring blade and a horizontal branch provided with said catch element, depending from the free end thereof.
 12. A railroad crossing formed with a plurality of concrete slabs laid flat over crossties between and exteriorly of track rails wherein each slab comprises a pair of longitudinal metal tubes, each slab connected to the adjacent slab by means of a dowel welded at one end of each tube, each said dowel freely engaged at the other end of a corresponding tube provided in an adjacent slab, said railroad crossing also comprising a spring hook provided at one end of a first concrete slab, said spring hook formed with a free ended spring blade, said spring blade formed with an L-shaped hook member comprising a branch rising from the main body of said spring blade and a horizontal branch provided with a catch element depending from the free end thereof, a recess formed in the mating end of a second adjacent slab, said recess having an angle iron embedded therein, the upper end of said angle iron defining a hooking shoulder to snap said catch element therein in locking position of said spring blade, an angle iron frame embedded in each concrete slab, said angle iron frame having two longitudinal sections and two lateral sections, said lateral Sections running along the ends of each said concrete slab, the vertical portion of said angle iron frame upwardly projecting from the horizontal portion, said spring blade and said recess provided only between two adjacent concrete slabs, said spring blade when required fixedly mounted at the outer end thereof over a first transverse bar provided between said two longitudinal sections, an inner space provided in said first concrete slab to allow free upward movement of said spring blade, said first angle iron comprising said lateral section of said angle iron frame away from said spring blade, a second transverse bar mounted between said first transverse bar and the lateral section adjacent said spring blade, said spring blade passing underneath said second transverse bar to assure resilient upward movement thereof, a plurality of anchors inwardly projecting from said frame into concrete material to firmly secure said frame in said concrete, a reinforcing armature in said concrete material, each slab provided with a longitudinal hole to permit passing electrical and communication cables therethrough, the lateral sides of said railroad crossing secured to corresponding crossties by means of tie rings provided at the corresponding ends of said concrete slabs, said tie rings spiked against the upper surface of said crosstie. 